A SUPERCOMPUTER has predicted how England will get on at the 2026 World Cup under the management of new boss Thomas Tuchel.

Tuchel has penned an 18-month contract with the Three Lions that will see him take charge of the nation for the 2026 tournament.

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The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich gaffer will have the hopes of the nation on his back as he looks to go one better than Gareth Southgate‘s efforts at the Euros last summer.

And he seems pretty calm about that pressure, insisting he “doesn’t feel” the weight of expectation – even in the hot-seat for the England national team.

That may be because he’s confident that he will be able to build upon the foundations laid by Southgate over the past eight years.

And a World Cup simulation on a supercomputer has the exact same idea, predicting that Tuchel will surpass Southgate’s best ever World Cup effort on his first attempt.

The whizzes behind SimWorldCup have suggested that England will manage a THIRD PLACE finish at the 2026 World Cup in North America.

Their simulation sees Tuchel’s men breezing through the group stages and pushing all the way to the semi-final before suffering heartbreak to a familiar foe – Spain.

A 1-0 defeat to the Spaniards in the semi-final would set up a third-place play-off against Uruguay – a match which England are predicted to win 1-0 themselves.

That would be one step better than Southgate managed during his first tournament in the 2018 World Cup.

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ANDY DILLON: Thomas Tuchel has all the ingredients to become a classic England manager – tactical nous, drive and a tangled love life

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By Andy Dillon

THOMAS TUCHEL possesses all the ingredients to become a classic England manager.

Tactical nous, drive, energy, experience – a tangled love life.

English football should welcome back the most explosive, dynamic, charismatic and impossibly tall and gangly coach to have lit up the Premier League.

Chelsea’s colourful former boss has been leading a settled life in Munich of late.

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Far enough away from ex-wife Sissi but close enough to see his two daughters.

Walking his dog in the streets in the east of Germany’s most fashionable city, residing in the posh Bogenhausen area. Living relatively quietly with his Brazilian girlfriend.

Tuchel is a vastly different personality to the man who led England quietly but assuredly to the brink of World Cups and European Championships.

An excitable nature can make him hard to handle for those seeking calm and who like to impose their way on a manager they view very much as an underling.

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Read more on why Tuchel REALLY IS the best man for the England job

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Southgate’s brave lions managed to reach the semi-finals in Russia, where they were knocked out by Croatia in extra-time.

But the former England manager didn’t manage to get the better of Belgium in the third place play-off, ultimately taking fourth in his debut tournament.

Of course, Southgate went on to reach two European Championship finals in 2021 and 2024 as well.

Tuchel appears to have been brought in by the FA with the goal of securing World Cup glory in 2026 and a third place finish may not be enough to get him an extension on his 18-month deal.

However, the supercomputer’s prediction did see the German pulling off some impressive victories throughout the tournament.

The Three Lions topped their group with three wins from three over South Korea, Paraguay and South Africa.

While their knockout efforts included wins over Panama, host nation the USA and Belgium.

And Tuchel’s men are in line for some attractive football if the simulation is to be correct, as England netted 17 times and conceded just three across the supercomputer’s predictions.

In the remainder of the tournament the supercomputer predicted that Argentina would win their second World Cup on the bounce – defeating Spain 1-0 in the final.

While home nations Wales and Scotland both made it out of their groups before being knocked out in the last-32 to Belgium and France respectively.

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World Cup 2026 supercomputer predictions

Here’s a look at how every England game was predicted by the supercomputer…

Group stage
England 3 Paraguay 0
England 2 South Korea 0
South Africa 0 England 4

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Round of 32
England 2 Panama 1

Last 16
USA 0 England 3

Quarter-final
Belgium 1 England 2

Semi-final
Spain 1 England 0

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Third place play-off
Uruguay 0 England 1

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Dan Hardy makes a case for Renan Ferreira being the best heavyweight in MMA if he can emphatically beat Francis Ngannou.

Ferreira (13-3) meets former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou (17-3) in Saturday’s PFL: Battle of the Giants (DAZN/ESPN+) main event at The Mayadeen.

PFL has been promoting Ngannou vs. Ferreira as a fight to determine “The Baddest Man on the Planet,” but with UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall looking unbeatable as of late and heavyweight champion Jon Jones widely considered the greatest fighter of all time, many disagree with that narrative.

Hardy believes an argument can be made for Ferreira if he’s able to look levels above Ngannou.

“If Renan comes through his weekend looking like a world beater, I think a lot of people are going to look at him and go, ‘You know what, he’s 6-foot-8, he’s trained at ATT (American Top Team), he’s dangerous in striking, he’s got great grappling and takedown defense since he’s moved there, I can make an argument for him,’” Hardy told MMA Junkie. “Jon Jones, for me, is still not a proven heavyweight. Stipe is way past his peak. I love Stipe, but he’s way past his peak. So, I don’t think Jones benefits a great deal from beating Stipe at this point.

“The benefit from the UFC’s perspective is that the very, very casual fans still feel like Stipe is at the top of the game. … For me, the Jones-Stipe fight, it doesn’t hold a great deal of interest. Jones-Aspinall, that’s the fight I want to see, and I think that determines the best heavyweight in the UFC. I think this fight determines the best heavyweight outside of the UFC. If ever there was a day where we could see the winner of these two fights face each other, I mean that would be a real treat for the fans.”

Despite the PFL’s promotion surrounding Ngannou vs. Ferreira, Hardy has a different opinion on who’s currently the No. 1 heavyweight in MMA.

“We know that Francis is an elite-level heavyweight, and I very much feel like Renan is, even though a lot of people may not consider him to be right now,” Hardy said. “Ryan Bader is no joke, and that was what, 40 seconds?

“And I feel like the improvements I’ve seen in Renan Ferreira’s game in the last couple of fights in particular, it gives me the confidence that he’s going to be able to hold his own against much better heavyweights. Tom Aspinall, for me, is probably the best heavyweight in the world right now, outside of the conversation with these two guys.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.

Watch as Emma Finucane, Sophie Capewell and Katy Marchant continue their gold medal heroics from Paris 2024 and win the women’s team sprint final at the Track Cycling World Championships in Ballerup, Denmark.

WATCH LIVE: Track Cycling World Championship – day one

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Sydney Sweeney is almost unrecognizable in new photos she posted after transforming into boxer Christy Martin for a new role she’s playing in an upcoming biopic.

The Euphoria actress showed off first look photos from set as she flexed her muscles and showed off her new hair to play the legendary women’s boxer.

“Over the past few months, I’ve been immersed in training to bring to life the story of an incredible woman—a true champion who fought battles both inside and outside the ring,” Sweeney wrote on her Instagram. “Her journey is a testament to resilience, strength, and hope, and I’m honored to step into her shoes to share her powerful story with you all. More to come soon.”

Sweeney is playing the lead role as Martin, who is a former boxing champion who competed from 1989 to 2012 and she was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2020 — the first year that women were on the ballot. Martin also survived an attempted murder by her husband James Martin after he stabbed her multiple times and shot her at their home in Florida.

James was later convicted of attempted second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

The untitled biopic is being directed by David Michod with actor Ben Foster playing Martin’s husband James with additional cast members including Merritt Weaver, Katy O’Brien, Ethan Embry, Jess Gabor, Chad L. Coleman and Tony Cavalero.

Production on the film just got underway in North Carolina with a release date still to be determined.

While she’s best known for roles in TV series like Euphoria and The White Lotus, as well as films such as Anyone But You and Immaculate, Sweeney actually started training MMA when she was only 14 years old and even participated in grappling competitions before turning her full attention towards acting in Hollywood.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle are in talks with a potential investor that could lead to the club avoiding administration.

Discussions are expected to take place with the investor on Thursday, with the club’s board meeting on Friday.

The Scottish League 1 outfit revealed earlier this month that administration was the most likely course of action but could be averted if fundraising efforts reach £200,000.

A crowdfunding website set up to meet that target currently sits at £85,000.

Losses ran to £1.2m last season and a similar loss is forecast for this term, but the club have warned that figure would not include money spent on restructuring following relegation from the Championship.

Duncan Ferguson’s side are second bottom of their division and host Annan Athletic on Saturday.

TOM ASPINALL wants to cross over into the WWE after he’s finished conquering the mixed martial arts world.

The Wigan warrior is on the cusp of becoming the UFC‘s heavyweight champion and currently holds the interim version of the title.

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A unification bout against the winner of undisputed titleholder Jon Jones‘ showdown with Stipe Miocic next month awaits the fan favourite.

Aspinall, 31, has no doubt in his mind that he’ll eventually reach the summit of the heavyweight mountain, although he doesn’t want to hang around for too long and become a relic of the sport.

And the Atherton Assassin is open to swapping the Octagon for the WWE ring once he brings an end to his already stellar career.

Speaking to SunSport at WWE Live in Manchester, he said: “When I have retired from MMA, I’m switching over to WWE.

“And I’m going to be the WWE heavyweight champ.”

Aspinall, who had one of the best seats in the house for Wednesday’s show, certainly has the stature and strength of a potential WWE superstar.

The UK’s third UFC champ stands at 6’5 and weighed a whopping 18 stone for his July demolition job of Curtis Blaydes.

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And he didn’t look out of place as he entered the ring and showed off his heavyweight hardware in front of a raucous crowd at the Co-op Live Arena following Cody Rhodes‘ shock introduction.

He also cut an impressive promo after being interrupted by Gunther, who received a chorus of booes for cutting off the local lad.

There is a path for Aspinall to enter the WWE as wrestling‘s premier promotion is under the same banner as the UFC.

The UFC joined forces with the WWE last year to form the TKO Group, which, as of last September, was valued at £16BILLION ($21.4B).

But his transition to the world of pro wrestling won’t happen until after he cements his legacy as the greatest heavyweight of all time.

A short-notice crack at the undisputed title could come Aspinall’s way if either Jones or Miocic are forced out of their rescheduled battle of legends.

Dana White and Co. have made him the official backup fighter for UFC’s 309 main event at Madison Square Garden.

Aspinall has made no secret of his desire to share the cage with Jones, saying after UFC 304: ” “I have nothing against Jon Jones as a person.

“But I think I’m the best heavyweight in the world. And if he thinks he’s the best heavyweight, then let’s settle it.

“It’s as simple as that, it’s not rocket science.

“There are two guys claiming to be the best heavyweight in the world. Let’s settle it.”

He added: “I’m the best heavyweight in the world. Prove me wrong, Jon. If you think you are, prove me wrong. It’s simple.”